Should We Sell Before We Buy? + Do I Have to Pay Tax To Move into My Own Condo Rental? — ‘The Situation’ Consumer Q&A
It's time for your questions on our September consumer Q/A segment, ‘The Situation’.
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It's time for your questions on our September consumer Q/A segment, ‘The Situation’.
It's time for your questions on our June consumer Q/A segment, ‘The Situation’.
It's time for your questions on our May consumer Q/A segment, ‘The Situation’.
It's time for our popular consumer Q/A segment, ‘The Situation’ on the latest Move Smartly show episode.
Selling a tenanted property in Ontario to a buyer who wishes to occupy for own use sometimes requires more complicated negotiations.
Each month in this live session, I discuss the latest stats, on the ground realities and answer consumer questions about the Toronto area real estate market right now.
In our latest monthly consumer Q&A, I respond to the detailed questions that real estate consumers across the GTA are asking now.
In our latest monthly consumer Q&A, I respond to the detailed questions that real estate consumers across the GTA are asking now.
Each month in this live session, I discuss the latest stats, on the ground realities and answer consumer questions about the Toronto area real estate market right now.
In our monthly consumer Q&A, ‘‘The Situation’, Urmi asks and John responds to the detailed questions that real estate consumers across the GTA have sent in.
In our monthly consumer Q&A, ‘‘The Situation’, Urmi asks and John responds to the detailed questions that real estate consumers across the GTA have sent in.
It's something that many agents don't like to discuss - here's why.
All owners of residential property in the City of Toronto must file an online declaration of the occupancy status of their property before February 2, 2023.
In the fourth of a special series, lead contributor, John Pasalis of Realosophy Realty, explains how buyers need to be thinking when making offers in a falling Toronto area market.
It's a question a lot of people are asking me - here's what buyers are really asking and how I respond.
High prices, intense buyer competition and worries about potential market crashes makes buying a house or condo today a far more complex prospect.
A deeper dig into a new pitch from 'Key'.
Why a recent CBC investigation into unethical behaviour by some buyer agents fails to tell the full story.
Home buyers routinely go for stressful and inefficient plays in the strange game that is Toronto real estate - here's what to do instead.
Signs that the market is still moving quickly, but not as out-of-control as it was months ago.
Is it financially safe and worth making so many other sacrifices - like a long commute or living on a busy street - to get into the Toronto area housing market right now?
In the GTA's overheated market, even first-time buyers with good incomes are finding it nearly impossible to afford a home without long commutes to the city.
Why only reporting upbeat and positive information is the domain of old school real estate brokerages.
Can a buyer terminate a transaction and get their deposit back if the published listing significantly overstates the size of a house?
With some homes getting up to 30 offers in the Toronto area right now, how can you get ahead as a buyer?
As the gap widens between Toronto's hot market for houses and a cooling market for condos, it's more important than ever to put your moves in the right order.
Join us for the Toronto Real Estate Summit being hosted right here on Move Smartly this July 20 to 23. Watch on demand starting July 20. Free to register.
While many buyers simply hope for the best, others focus on finding a bargain - but all should instead focus on steering clear of the problem areas that bring an overall market...
This past year’s GTA real estate market may become known as the year of aborted transactions.
Pot's legal in Canada, but there are still good reasons to stay clear of a home that has been used a marijuana grow operation - here's how to do it.
Why it's important to know whether a home has heritage designation before you buy - and how to check.
In the City of Toronto, homes are currently being advertised for sale with front pad parking spots that need to be registered to be considered legal.
Toronto's booming real estate market and our love of tv reno shows has made the "flip" - a quickly renovated home - part of our everyday vocabulary, but it poses unique risks for...
What are building permits - and how can they help you avoid buying homes with major problems?
Use the latest in data technology to avoid being surprised by these common but ‘invisible’ house problems.
I've seen many interesting things in Toronto's real estate market over the past twenty years, but recently came across one of the oddest things I've ever seen.
High real estate prices are inspiring more creative buying arrangements between even casual acquaintances - but it's important to proceed carefully.
Research shows that financial stress is among the top reasons couples get divorced. So why do we keep overspending on our homes?
Launched this past fall, TheMindfulBroker.com aims to address a critical gap in our adult education - how to meet our basic need for housing successfully.
What happens when there is a significant discrepancy between the way a home is described on an MLS listing vs. the Agreement of Purchase and Sale?
Is renting until you can save more money the sure-fire solution for an expensive housing market that it seems?
After studying housing markets for two decades, I have learned that making better real estate decisions is not about luck, or timing, or wealth.
We offered less money and there was another offer on the table for more which the seller turned down - why?
By July and August, many homes that would have attracted multiple offers weeks prior are sitting on the market for two to three times as long. Why?
Even with the general slowdown of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) real estate market from our peak last year many neighbourhoods are still experiencing high levels of demand.
This time last year, nearly 1,000 Toronto home buyers and sellers suffered major financial losses - could they have done something differently or was it just bad timing?
John Pasalis in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying
I recently stopped by TVO’s The Agenda to discuss the latest market stats with the Toronto Star’s Tess Kalinowski, and host...
John Pasalis in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying
“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful” - Warren Buffett
Acclaimed investor Warren Buffett...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
When is a detached house not detached? That was the question facing the “Smiths” late last month.
The couple came to see me after they signed an...
With the surge in real estate prices over the past few years, it’s not a wonder that the Toronto real estate market has seen an uptick in the number of homes being flipped, i.e.,...
John Pasalis in Toronto Real Estate News , Home Buying
If there is one part of the home buying process that all of Toronto hates – it’s when you have to compete for a home...
Last week we touched on how to assess the impact of investors when evaluating a condo building – this week we’re going to take it one step further by delving into three other...
The condo market in Toronto seems to be unfazed by the introduction of the Ontario Government’s new Fair Housing Plan. In some instances, the number of units bought by investors...
This week I wanted to highlight a listing I viewed over the long weekend with clients of mine that were looking for a home in the Bedford Park area. Anyone who knows the area...
Recently, there were two homes on the market with the same offer date and my clients were trying to figure out which one they would offer on – one in Port Credit, Mississauga and...
From a legal perspective, buying a pre-construction condo can be an even more involved process than buying a resale property as there are many additional aspects to consider –...
More home buyers are considering condo style living as an alternative to freehold housing due to the widening price gap between the two types. Although a viable housing choice...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. I pick a Toronto listing or trend to focus on...
Back in October I wrote a blog post on the correlation between high performing school districts and how they affect home value. The basic premise of the post was to show that...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. I pick a Toronto listing or trend to focus on...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
What happens if you discover water flowing below the floor in a newly-purchased house and you have to completely gut the basement to remove toxic...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. I pick a Toronto listing or trend to focus...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. I pick a Toronto listing or trend to focus...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
The Supreme Court of Canada has written the final chapter in one of the most important title-insurance cases of this generation.
The story began...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Condo Buying
What should a buyer do when the status certificate for their condominium purchase shows that the corporation is involved in...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. I pick a Toronto listing or trend to focus...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Home Selling
A small claims court decision released last year underscores the importance of careful wording of seller promises in agreements of...
John Pasalis in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying
As I started my own home search a few months ago I found myself in an interesting position – for an owner of a real estate...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. I pick a Toronto listing or trend to focus...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
Tarion Warranty Corporation has warned Ontario’s builders and real-estate agents they can be charged and fined if involved in the sale of an...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. I pick a Toronto listing to focus on each...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
An interim report on the Tarion warranty corporation should have gone further to protect home buyers’ purchase deposits.
Special adviser J....
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Here's my closer look at a recent Realosophy listing brought to market by our busy sales team - along with key insights and the bigger...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. We pick the top Toronto listing in each...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Editor's Note: Due to error, this post was recently reposted. It refers to a listing that was previously available. We apologize for the...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and location. We pick the top Toronto listing in each...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and décor. We pick the top Toronto listing in each...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and décor. We pick the top Toronto listing in each...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
With cottage-buying season now underway, it’s important to remember that a land survey is the single most important document in the whole...
Nicole Harrington in Listings of the Week
Toronto’s housing market is as diverse as its people: ranging in price, size, and décor. We pick the top Toronto listings in each...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Condo Buying
There’s good news and bad news for homebuyers who would like to see a formal licensing protocol instituted for the province’s home...
Bob Aaron in Legal in Home Buying, Condo Buying
A decision by the Tax Court of Canada last month has muddied the waters about who is — and is not — entitled to the new-home...
Nicole Harrington in Home Buying
Feeling Priced Out? What Options do New Home Buyers Have in the Toronto Market?
With houses selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars...
No home buyer wants to be the sad buyer in our chart below who bought their house at the absolute peak of a real estate bubble, just before prices...
John Pasalis in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying
For decades, real estate agents have been helping home buyers with the art of buying a home. They have advised them on what...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
Ontario homeowners who have purchased title insurance policies are the big winners in a Court of Appeal decision released last week.
When Paul...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Condo Buying
A review of consumer protections for owners of new homes is set to get underway.
Retired associate chief justice J. Douglas...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Home Selling
Is a seller required to be truthful in disclosing to a buyer that a house was built on potentially toxic landfill? That was the...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
The vast majority of real estate agents are honest, competent and caring individuals.
Occasionally, however, one of them falls off the rails.
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Condo Buying
A squeaky wooden floor was at the centre of a recent decision by the Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal that overruled the province’s...
Ashleigh Dorrington in Condo Buying, Home Buying, Leslieville
Broadview Lofts
If you like lattes, antiquing and walking to work then the east end of Toronto might be for you....
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
Tracy Lynn Robinson and her husband bought a house in Milton last year.
The purchase agreement contained a warranty that the appliances and...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
Does the seller of a house have a legal obligation to advise the buyers about a flood that occurred after the parties entered into...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Condo Buying
Two areas involving builder agreements of purchase and sale that cry out for action by the new homes provincial watchdog are...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
With the high price of housing these days, more buyers are turning to the Bank of Mom and Dad for help in acquiring a new home. Often, this takes...
Alan Carson in Guest Expert, Home Buying
New condo buyers ask me all the time “Do I really need a home inspection for a condo?” After all, there’s no roof to climb or crawl space...
Bob Aaron in Home Buying, Legal
Back in June 2011, Angela Maria Henao and her aunt signed an agreement to buy a new house on Quetico Cres in Oakville. With the June 2012,...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
It is a common understanding among real estate lawyers that residential title insurance will provide protection against municipal work orders and...
John Pasalis in Home Buying , Toronto Real Estate
As we approach the busy spring real estate market I thought it would be a good opportunity to share my thoughts on the most...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Home Selling
Is a real estate agent obligated to disclose to purchaser clients whether the house they are interested in buying is stigmatized...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Home Selling
If a property in Ontario has been stigmatized as a result of a murder, suicide, death, haunting — or other unpleasant event — must...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home BuyingEditor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home BuyingEditor's Note: The Move Smartly Blog Team congratulates Dave Larock on a well-deserved award from...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home BuyingEditor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
John in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying
Deciding whether or not it’s the right time to buy your first home is one of the most important decisions many people will make in...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home BuyingEditor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
The 150 purchasers in the failed Centrium condominium project might not have lost their combined deposits of $14.9 million had the Law Society of...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Mon Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every Mon...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: This post appears on Tues this week due to the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday on Mon....
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), the body that licenses and governs real estate agents, is cracking down on...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this blog - check back every...
John in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying, Condo Buying, Home Selling
Realosophy released its semi-annual Home Value Survey for the Globe and Mail today and I thought this...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
A recent decision of a discipline panel of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) could spell the end of the Seller Property...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears weekly on this...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Due to the Labour Day holiday, the Monday Morning Interest...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finances, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Gone are the days when central bankers act as invisible hands, which...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Due to technical delay, Dave's Monday Morning Interest...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
Photo Credit: plus.google.com
The Seller Property Information Statement, a disclosure form created by the real estate industry,...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
Photo Credit: iStock.com
I just found out that the boathouse and dock in front of my cottage were constructed on a municipal road allowance, and...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Condo BuyingPhoto Courtesy: iStock.com
Where can I find the size of the condo unit I’m buying in the builder’s pre-construction contract?
I...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Photo Courtesy: istock.com
I’m about to do a major renovation in my home. What kind of paperwork do I need?
Excellent answers to this question were provided...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
Photo Courtesy: istock.com
As a real estate lawyer, I am a big supporter of the campaign by the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) to phase out...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Toronto Real Estate News, Condo Buying, Home Buying
Photo Courtesy: istock.com
A seller must pay commission to their real estate agent if a full-price offer...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
True or false? A land survey is unnecessary if the house purchaser buys title insurance.
Answer: false.
A court decision released last month...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Toronto Real Estate News, Condo Buying, Home Buying
Many buyers of new homes and condominiums may be surprised to receive a demand from Canada Revenue Agency...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Toronto Real Estate News, Condo Buying, Home Buying
A recent court decision raises the thorny issue of whether it should be legal for builders to restrict...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Toronto Real Estate News, Condo Buying, Home Buying
A sea change is coming for the management and operation of the province’s 600,000 condominium units if...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
Photo Credit: Bob Aaron
In the real estate field, when the value of a house might be affected by a history of murder, suicide,...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
I think it’s time that a land survey be made a compulsory part of every real estate transaction. It baffles me why a clause to that...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
Two recent decisions of the Ontario Superior Court have determined that an open municipal building permit — where the city has not...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
My nomination for the the most odball real estate scheme of the year is last week’s proposal by Larry Chilton and his real estate...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
In the wake of widespread flooding in Toronto last week, I’ve had a number of phone calls and emails from people trying to sell...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
Just when I thought I had heard every possible real estate problem, a client showed up with a question that is so novel that the...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
In the world of real estate, it’s not very well known that title insurance policies vary significantly from one company to another.
When it...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
An interesting decision from Toronto’s small claims court last December provides a useful lesson on the obligations of buyers,...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
Shortly after Sidney and his wife bought their Toronto home last fall, a number of their new neighbours told them that there had...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
In Part 1 of this post, we talked about how Toronto buyers can get a jump on other buyers in competitive spring market. My top tip was to go to see a...
While Toronto's real estate market is expected to start leveling out, buyers looking for homes in Toronto's hottest neighbourhoods aren't feeling any...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Last week I received an email from a Star reader who had just bought a $588,000 home in Scarborough and wanted to know if I could refer him to a...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Sometimes, even the experts get it wrong, or maybe not entirely right. In her new book, Money Rules, financial guru Gail Vaz Oxlade says that...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
Dave Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
This week we’ll focus on some recent currency-related news and look at...
David Larock in Monday Interest Rate Update, Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Editor's Note: Dave's Monday Morning Interest Rate Update appears on Move...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Last week the U.S. Federal Reserve replaced its pledge to keep its policy rate in a range of 0.00 to...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
My ears are still ringing from the peal of celebratory trumpets that blared in response to the latest...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Condo Buying
Despite the fact that residential title insurance has been commonplace in Ontario for the last 15 years, many of my clients still...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future” - Yogi Berra.
Trying to predict the...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
An Ontario real estate agent has escaped responsibility for failing to review the results of a professional home inspection with his purchaser...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Now that the U.S. election is over, markets will shift their attention back to the European Union...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
Imagine waking up one morning to find out that the house you are living in and have listed for sale belongs to your next-door neighbours, and...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
When the Bank of Canada (BoC) released its latest interest-rate statement last Tuesday it did not...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
When Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Mark Carney speaks, the experts I read carefully parse his words,...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
A decision of the Ontario Divisional Court this summer underscores the importance of having an experienced real estate lawyer review a builder...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Last week was a slow one for new economic data so in today’s Update I’m taking a step back and...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Monthly employment reports should be closely monitored by anyone keeping an eye on mortgage rates...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Market bulls hoped that when U.S. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke finally gave investors the quantitative...
John Pasalis in Toronto Schools, Home Buying, Realosophy News
When we launched realosophy.com back in 2007, we pioneered market analysis by neighbourhood in Toronto. At the time,...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Here are the three most important developments last week that related to Canadian mortgage rates:
...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
When U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stepped to the podium at Jackson Hole last Friday he...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Bank of Canada (BoC) Governor Mark Carney has made it clear that he wants to raise interest rates but...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
To my surprise, Government of Canada (GoC) bond yields (on which our fixed-mortgage rates are based)...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
It was a strange week for Government of Canada (GoC) bond yields (on which our fixed-mortgage rates...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
The Bank of Canada (BoC) left its overnight policy rate unchanged last week as expected. (Reminder:...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
The devil is always in the detail.
When Spain’s 100 billion euro bailout was finalized and the euro...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Last week federal finance minister Jim Flaherty surprised real-estate market stakeholders by...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
This week’s Update was going to focus on the latest employment report from Statistics Canada and how...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
The current debate about the strength of the global economic recovery is pretty much over, at least...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
The global economic recovery is on a very tenuous footing. While determined optimists can string...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Last week was an interesting one for anyone keeping an eye on Canadian mortgage rates.
The Bank of...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
When the European Central Bank (ECB) injected more than US$1 trillion in cheap, three-year loans into...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Statistics Canada released its latest employment report last Friday, and the data were a welcome...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Home Selling
My column on basement apartments earlier this month seems to have touched a nerve among homeowners and real estate agents, many of...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
Last week the euro-zone finance ministers increased the size of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM)...
John Pasalis in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying
Being a home buyer in Toronto's real estate market is hard work.
Every week, you eagerly wait to see the new listings that...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
This week’s update will use an ‘around the horn’ format to highlight several interesting developments...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling, Home Buying
When real estate agents prepare offers for a house with a basement apartment, they typically insert a clause stating that “seller...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Five-year Government of Canada (GoC) bond yields continued to surge higher last week so expect a fresh round of headlines...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
It’s time for another rate simulation but this time we’re going to change it up.
The age old fixed-versus-variable question is...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
If you want to look beyond the incendiary headlines about housing bubbles in Canada’s largest real...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Many people think that the differences in how lenders calculate fixed-rate mortgage penalties are a non-issue now that rates...
Worried about buying in the right school district for your family?
Urmi Desai in 5 Questions, Home Buying
The blogosphere has been abuzz about “FML Listings” an anonymous blog launched by a frustrated Toronto home buyer. FML’s MO is as simple as...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
This quarter’s Mortgage Market Update is a good news/bad news story. I’m an optimist at heart so let’s start with the good news....
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
When the calendar flips to a new year, many of us make resolutions to improve our lives. Judging by how busy the gyms get during...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
It’s been three months since we last ran scenarios that compare the potential costs of fixed vs. variable-rate five-year...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
I suppose it was inevitable that some of the more aggressive U.S. lending practices would make their way north of the border...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Like stock markets, economies are really only governed by two competing forces: fear and greed.
When greed dominates, money...
John Pasalis in Condo Buying, Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
If there’s one thing that concerns me about Toronto’s real estate market it's the uncertainty about the boom we...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
On Wednesday of last week, Statistics Canada released its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for August 2011. While overall...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
On Friday, the European Central Bank, the U.S. Federal Reserve, and the central banks of Britain, Switzerland and Japan all...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
It’s been three months since we ran our first Mortgage Rate Simulation where we compared the cost of a current five-year...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Businesses are always looking to cash in on consumer trends, and in today’s world the trend towards greener, more sustainable...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Condo Buying
With thousands of new Toronto condominiums being completed each year, investor purchasers are putting many of them on the market,...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
For a lender, bigger is not always better.
The larger a mortgage gets, the greater the lender’s potential loss if the borrower...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
One of the lesser known benefits of title insurance is that the insurer is obligated to provide and pay for the legal costs of defending the...
Bob Aaron in Home Buying, Legal
Last month I received an email from a firm billing itself as a “very successful real estate investment firm that invests heavily in something...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Home Selling
All eyes were on last Friday’s employment report after our latest Consumer Price Index (for May) came in higher...
Bob Aaron in Home Buying, Condo Buying, Home Selling, Legal
One of the biggest challenges facing the new home industry today is the problem of illegal construction and sale of...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Home Selling
If you are buying a house or refinancing your mortgage, the siren song emanating from your local bank branch can...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying, Home SellingIf you want to sell your current home and use the proceeds as a down payment on a different property, what do you...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
An Ontario court has found a real estate agent partially liable in damages for failing to review a home inspector’s report carefully with his...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Mortgage rates have been on a downward march lately – five-year fixed-rate mortgages are now offered in the 3.69% range and...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Co-op and co-ownership properties offer exceptional value for the right type of buyer. These buildings are usually well-located...
Bob Aaron in Home Buying, Legal
The governing bodies of the notary and legal professions in Quebec have launched a lawsuit against several title insurance companies over the...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Mortgage debt can be intimidating; it is a massive personal liability that typically takes decades to pay off. During the early...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Mortgage rates and inflation go hand in hand.
Variable-mortgage rates are set using the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate, which...
Bob Aaron in Home Buying, Condo Buying, Legal
In my column on April 2, I wrote about a study by Halifax Home Insurance in the U.K. which reported that more than 360,000 Britons,...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
If Canadians shopped for cars the same way we shop for mortgages, most of us would be driving around in old beaters that would...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Fixed-rate mortgages offer borrowers predictability and peace-of-mind in exchange for higher initial borrowing costs (over the...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Borrowers are often surprised to hear that qualifying for a five-year variable-rate mortgage is more difficult than qualifying...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home BuyingTo the uninitiated, Canada’s lending market must look like a very egalitarian place. All of our major banks post the same...
John Pasalis in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying, Toronto Neighbourhoods
“Where is the next up and coming neighbourhood?” has to be the question I’m most often asked by home...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
When couples decide to divorce, financial assets accumulated while together must be equitably divided and in many cases, the...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
If you are a new immigrant to Canada - welcome! As a former world traveller, I know how daunting it can be to get settled in a...
Bob Aaron in Condo Buying, Home Buying, Legal
The Park Lake Residences condominium project is located on Lake Shore Blvd. W. at Ellis Ave., near the foot of Windermere. Built by...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
On January 17, 2011, Jim Flaherty, our federal Minister of Finance announced changes to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Buying your first house is a milestone right up there with the biggies. When you become the legal owner of a patch of land, it’s...
David Larock in Home Buying, Mortgages and Finance, Legal
Your property’s title provides the legal proof that you are its owner. It describes your rights to the land and any...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Mortgage pre-approvals are full of conditions and qualifiers, and when you think about it, why wouldn’t they be? When you submit...
David Larock in Mortgages and Finance, Home Buying
Buyers will often include a financing condition when drafting an offer to purchase with their realtor. This clause gives them...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying, Mortgages and Finance
It’s hard to think of any consumer purchase contract where the price on the front page is not the full purchase price,...
Urmi Desai in Home Buying, Lifestyle
One way to measure the success of a visit with friends and family is the quantity of ‘in jokes’ that result (the poorer the quality, the...
David Larock in Home Buying, Mortgages and Finance
One of the most common observations made about the financial profile of average baby boomers is that too much of their net worth...
Let's face it, saving money for the down payment on your first home can be an overwhelming task. These days, you are...
David Larock in Home Buying, Mortgages and Finance
Happy belated Canada Day! This past weekend as I wound my way north up to cottage country, I was thinking of ideas for this...
David Larock in Home Buying, Mortgages and Finance
Estimating your closing costs after the excitement of buying your home is about as appealing as sorting out travel insurance...
David Larock in Home Buying, Mortgages and Finance
We live in interesting times. While economists and pundits normally debate the degree to which an economic trend will wax or...
John Pasalis in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying Tips
The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) recently published a brochure with some consumer focused information about...
John Pasalis in Home Buying Tips
My last post on multiple offers sparked reaction from agents and consumers alike. As a follow up, I’ll consider these comments and further clarify...
John Pasalis in Home Buying Tips
When buyers decide to make an offer to purchase a home their real estate agent typically includes two conditions in the agreement of purchase and...
Rachel Loizos in Legal, Condo Buying Tips, Home Buying Tips
In his recent article, Condo Buyers should prepare for ‘phantom’ rent, Terrence Belford of the Globe and Mail...
Rachel Loizos in Legal, Home Buying
You can browse through the list provided on the City of Toronto Website and search our heritage properties by their municipal address. The...
Rachel Loizos in Legal, HomeBuying
I attended a great Law Society of Upper Canada seminar recently, The Annotated Agreement of Purchase and Sale, chaired by Bradley N. McLellan...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
Next month marks the official beginning of summer, the season when many city folk retreat to their cottages to de-stress and to absorb some...
Carl Minicucci in Home Buying Tips, Condo Buying Tips, Legal
In the market and planning the purchase of a new freehold home or condominium in the next few months? If so, you will...
Bob Aaron in Home Buying, Legal
Taking the law into your own hands over a property line dispute can be dangerous to your bank account, as one Toronto homeowner discovered...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
When Donna bought her home near Warden Ave. and Ellesmere Rd. last summer, she had no idea she would get stuck with the final water bill of the...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Buying
The most important question for anyone buying a cottage property is always, "How do I get there from here?" After all, there's no point...
Bob Aaron in Home Buying Tips, Legal
Earlier this month, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released a decision which highlights the obligations of parties signing a...
John Pasalis in Money, Home Buying Tips
Last week, the Toronto Star’s Ellen Roseman wrote an article titled 40-year Mortgage Comes with Hidden Hazards. On Move Smartly, we often...
Bob Aaron in Legal, Home Selling Tips, Toronto Real Estate News
Ed. Note. We are pleased to welcome Bob Aaron, a Toronto real estate law expert, to Move Smartly. A leading ...
Carl in Home Buying, Home Selling Tips, Real Estate Trends
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to show you the greatest Real Estate brokerage offer ever made…all your investment and...
Rachel in Lifestyle, HomeBuying, Legal
With spring in the air and my tulips breaking the surface in my garden, my thoughts naturally turn to home renovations. I enjoy taking on...
John in Home Buying, Home Selling Tips
Multiple Representation (also referred to as Dual Agency) can occur when one agent represents both the buyer and the seller in a real estate...
Rachel in Legal, HomeBuying
I have heard many people say that they want to rent out their basement or that they want to buy a property that can accommodate a tenant. Whether this...
Rachel in Home Buying, Money, Legal
Home buyers, especially first time home buyers, are often surprised by their closing costs. Although the standard legal fees and land transfer...
Heather in HomeBuying, Money
RRSP season is here and at this time of year, Canadians grapple with issues about finding money to contribute, deciding what to invest in, and...
Rachel in Legal, HomeBuying
In your agreement for purchase and sale you will very often have items, called warranties, that help define and clarify the agreement between the...
Rachel in Home Buying, Legal
In a previous post, we discussed the most common ways that people can take title to property. In particular, sole ownership, joint tenants, and...
John in HomeBuying, Money
With all the news about interest rate cuts recently, many home buyers are wondering if now is the right time to go with a variable rate mortgage. The...
John in Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
In a previous post I addressed the one question that’s on most first time buyers minds; is now the right time to buy my first home?...
Rachel in HomeBuying, Money, Legal
On October 22, 2007, Toronto City Council approved a Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT), the "Toronto Tax," and we have now received more...
Rachel in Legal, HomeBuying
A recent article highlights one of the most valuable and often glossed over part of your real estate transaction - relationships. Reported in the Globe...
John in HomeBuying, Toronto Real Estate News
It’s a tough time to be a first-time home buyer in Toronto. Toronto’s eleven year real estate boom has left many first time buyers...
Rachel in Legal, HomeBuying
Most HomeBuyers do not bring the agreement of purchase and sale to their lawyer until it has already been signed. If you do not have a lawyer review...
John in Home Buying, Legal
Multiple offers on homes are a common occurrence in Toronto’s hot real estate market. For those unfamiliar with the dynamics of a multiple offer, go to
John in Home Buying, Media Roundup
Home Information Packs (HIPs) were introduced in the UK this past summer as a way to improve transparency in the HomeBuying process. HIPs...
Rachel in Home Buying, Money, Legal
Mayor Miller’s land transfer tax (Miller’s Toronto Tax) takes effect on February 1, 2008.
I was having a conversation last night about the...
Jesse in Condo Buying, Legal, Lifestyle
You have found your ideal condominium. It may be a conversion of sorts, a shiny high-rise in a tony neighbourhood or one of the row house...
Title insurance is widely used in Ontario real estate transactions and is often used to replace or augment what is referred to as the ‘solicitor’s...
Rachel in Home Buying, Legal, Money
In my very first post on this blog, I wrote about the GST rebate and how HomeBuyers can take advantage of the benefit of the ‘transitional...
Heather in Home Buying, Money
Ed. Note. We are very pleased to welcome a new blogger to the Move Smartly team. Heather Paterson is an experienced mortgage professional who is...
John in Home Buying
Real estate agents have a saying; a well-listed property is half-sold. The term ‘well-listed’ refers to the information the listing agent entered into the MLS...
Rachel in Legal, Home Buying, Condo Buying
You have finally received the good news that your new home is (almost) ready. Only a few more loose ends to tie up before you can...
Rachel in Home Buying, Toronto Real Estate News
I am sharing the correspondence I received from Councillor Thompson and Councillor Minnan-Wong. Prior to the vote held on Monday...
Rachel in Urban Issues, Home Buying, Legal, Money
Councillor Thompson dropped a stack of over 1,000 sheets of paper at the start of the meeting and announced they represented ‘no’...
John in Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying
The victims of a phantom (or fake) multiple offer recently came forward to tell their story to Toronto Star reporter Gail Swainson....
John and Urmi in Urban Issues, Toronto Real Estate News, Home Buying
With a major tax vote just around the corner, Mayor David Miller hasn’t exactly convinced Toronto that his ...
My previous post on taking title did not address the title-related issues in the fairly common scenario where people live together in a relationship...
John in HomeBuying, Money, Toronto Real Estate News, Real Insight
Ed note. Real Insight is a periodic feature decoding some of the many mysteries surrounding HomeBuying.
Some of...
Rachel in HomeBuying, Legal, Real Insight
Ed note. Real Insight is a periodic feature decoding some of the many mysteries surrounding HomeBuying.
Any number of factors can...
Rachel in HomeBuying, Legal, Real Insight
Ed note. Real Insight is a periodic feature decoding some of the many mysteries surrounding HomeBuying.
When you purchase your home, you...
Urmi in HomeBuying, Lifestyle
In order to write great fiction, Virginia Woolf opined back in 1928, a woman must have “money and a room of her own.” In observing the limited...
John in HomeBuying, Money, Lifestyle, Real Life
Ed note. Real Life is a periodic feature detailing stories about the situations HomeBuyers encounter in the real world.
A reader...
John in Realosophy News, HomeBuying
The absence of consumer protection in the real estate industry was one of the main reasons our team started Realosophy. HomeBuyers are the most...
Urmi in HomeBuying, Money, Toronto Real Estate News, In the News
No wonder consumers are confused when it comes to HomeBuying – apparently, they are not the only ones. Departing...
John in Money, HomeBuying, Real Insight, In the News
Ed note. Real Insight is a periodic feature decoding some of the many mysteries surrounding HomeBuying.
Last weekend’s...
Rachel in Condos, HomeBuying, Money
When you purchase a new home or condominium, on your statement of adjustments, there will be a section that references realty taxes (also known...
Rachel in Legal, HomeBuying, In the News
There are many reasons to require a home inspection prior to firming up your real estate transaction. For most people, buying a home is...
John in HomeBuying, Toronto Real Estate News
Talk about real estate in Toronto usually centers on the city’s booming housing market. For the past seven years, we’ve been hearing...
Rachel in Condos, HomeBuying, Legal, Money
Nothing sends clients reeling like the statement of adjustments on a new condominium closing, except, perhaps the statement of...
Urmi in HomeBuying, Money
For the longest time, I put off one of the first steps any potential HomeBuyer is advised to take: get one with your credit score or rating. For most of...
Rachel in Legal, HomeBuying, Condos
There is a very interesting period during the purchase of a new condominium that resembles something between ownership and renting...known as...
John in Real Insight, HomeBuying
Ed note. Real Insight is a periodic feature decoding some of the many mysteries surrounding HomeBuying.
A couple I know was recently given the...
Jesse in Neighbourhoods, Neighbourhood Explorer
Ed. Note. Neighbourhood Explorer is a regular feature in which our intrepid adventurer presents an up close-and-personal tour of a...
Rumor has it that Boutique Condos will be adding an additional 16 floors on top of its Phase 2 condo at the corners of Nelson and Simcoe in Toronto's ...
Urmi in HomeBuying, Neighbourhoods, Lifestyle
“So,” Paul concluded, pausing to swirl his caesar-with-extra-horseradish, “I believe I live in the Upper Upper West Annex.” Seated...
Rachel in Legal, HomeBuying
My friend recently purchased a house and despite my best efforts, she proceeded with the transaction without obtaining a survey. Exasperating! A survey...
Urmi in HomeBuying, In the News, Toronto Real Estate News
Thanks to council's decision not to decide, heated discussions about David Miller, Millerites (the crew not the brew) and...
Urmi in Neighbourhoods, HomeBuying, Lifestyle
Being a bit of a news wire junkie, provocative headlines tend to catch my eye: “Ottawa ranked best place to live in Canada.” Before...
Rachel in Legal, Condos, HomeBuying, Real Insight
Ed note. Real Insight is a periodic feature decoding some of the many mysteries surrounding HomeBuying.
A very dear friend of...
John in HomeBuying, Toronto Real Estate News
An article in the Toronto Star this weekend highlights one HomeBuyer’s experience competing in four bidding wars (multiple offers)....
How would you like the purchase of your new home to translate into clawing back some of your hard-earned dollars – and from the government? Very much, I think....
John in HomeBuying
Many HomeBuyers have a difficult time deciding on the type of home and neighbourhood they want to live in. Couples often have an even harder time because both...
Urmi in HomeBuying, Lifestyle
I have long been committed to low-rent, public transit, downtown living in the belief that having low overhead (no home maintenance, no car, no...
John in Real Life, Money, HomeBuying
Ed note. Real Life is a periodic feature detailing stories about the situations HomeBuyers encounter in the real world.
In my previous post,...
Welcome to realosophy.com! We hope that you are as excited as we are about our new Toronto HomeBuyer’s website.
We are a group of young consumers and professionals who once...
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